President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a series of bills to the Senate seeking changes to laws governing transport safety investigations, drug control, public service training and the prosecution of international crimes.
The executive communications were read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Tuesday, after which the proposed legislations were referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action.
One of the proposals, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau Amendment Bill 2026, seeks to strengthen the bureau’s independence and expand its responsibilities beyond aviation accidents to cover maritime incidents and other transport-related occurrences.
According to the President’s letter, the proposed amendment would reposition the bureau as an independent, multimodal safety investigation authority. It also seeks to transfer supervisory oversight of the agency to the Presidency and strengthen its institutional, operational and administrative framework.
The proposal would amend the existing Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau Act of 2022.
Tinubu Seeks New Legal Framework for NDLEA
Another bill, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Bill 2026, seeks to repeal the existing NDLEA Act and the Indian Hemp Act, both contained in the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The proposed legislation is intended to establish a consolidated legal framework for combating the cultivation, processing, trafficking and use of illicit drugs.
It also seeks to strengthen the agency’s powers, including its authority to investigate people suspected of involvement in drug-related activities.
The proposal is one of the measures submitted to the National Assembly for consideration as the Federal Government seeks to revise the legal framework governing the agency’s operations.
Proposed National School of Government
Tinubu also transmitted the National School of Government Bill 2026, which seeks to repeal the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria Act and establish a new institution for public sector training and development.
The proposed institution is expected to serve as a national centre for leadership development, governance training, policy implementation and executive capacity building.
It is also intended to strengthen the skills of public officials and improve institutional capacity across government.
Bills Seek to Domesticate Geneva Conventions, Rome Statute
The President further submitted bills seeking to give domestic legal effect to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their two Additional Protocols of 1977.
The conventions and protocols establish important protections for people affected by armed conflict, including wounded combatants, prisoners of war and civilians.
According to the executive communication, the proposed Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols Bill would repeal the existing Geneva Conventions Act and give effect in Nigeria to the international instruments.
Another proposal, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Enforcement) Bill, seeks to domesticate the Rome Statute and establish a framework for enforcing penalties for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and related offences.
The bill also provides for Nigeria’s cooperation with the International Criminal Court in carrying out its responsibilities.
Both proposals were included in the executive communications presented to the Senate for consideration.
Senate Receives Notice of Presidential Assent to University Bills
Meanwhile, the Senate received notification that President Tinubu had assented to two amendment bills concerning federal universities of technology and vocational studies.
One of the laws provides for the inclusion of the Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies in Yaba, Lagos, in the relevant legislation governing federal universities of technology.
The other amendment provides for the inclusion of the Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies in Kaduna in the Federal Universities of Technology Act.
Akpabio subsequently referred the documents to the Clerk to the National Assembly for further action.
The Senate President commended Tinubu for signing the two university bills into law, describing the development as an important step towards promoting education in the country.
The bills transmitted by the President will undergo the relevant legislative processes before the Senate determines the next steps on their consideration.
